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From coast to coast: New planning alumnus reflects on hands-on journey across Canada
New 91泡芙 alumnus Ben Schulz was one of the first to hear about SFU鈥檚 new accredited planning program. Fast forward a few years, and he鈥檚 crossing the stage as a graduate of the School of Resource and Environmental Management (REM), well on his way to becoming a registered professional planner.
In his second year in REM, Schulz received an email announcing the launch of the undergraduate planning stream.
鈥淎t the time, we were learning a lot about climate change, how cities were responding to it, and how it was dire,鈥� shares Schulz. 鈥淚 really wanted to make a difference, and planning felt like a very tangible, hands-on discipline to go into and learn how cities could be changed.鈥�
Altering course to switch into the REM Planning program, Schulz put this desire to make change to work and took on co-op roles across the country.
Starting locally, Schulz spent eight months in YVR Airport鈥檚 environment department learning about their operations and sustainability efforts.
He followed this up by moving across the country to spend the summer of 2024 in Moncton, New Brunswick to work as a planning assistant for the Southeast Regional Service Commission.
鈥淚t was amazing, it was a very policy-driven position, and I loved Moncton in the summer,鈥� says Schulz.
To bookend his degree, Schulz took on one final co-op placement, this time with the City of Edmonton as a planning student working with their zoning and bylaws team.
鈥淚t was also very policy-driven, but it was very interesting to see how a bigger municipality worked and to be in meetings where so many bigger files and developments were discussed,鈥� he says.
In reflection, Schulz jokes that he may have 鈥渨ent a bit overboard鈥� with adding co-op work terms to his degree, but he鈥檚 glad to have taken advantage of each opportunity 鈥� all of which have led him to landing his current role as a planning assistant for the City of Port Moody.
鈥淚鈥檓 very thankful to have gone to a bunch of different places, and to have ended up back where I started,鈥� he says.
In this role, Schulz helps people understand and work with planning regulations and bylaws, interacting with residents daily and learning what鈥檚 important to them.
鈥淚 think in planning, there鈥檚 a reputation of being against development, but mostly people just aren鈥檛 aware,鈥� he says. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 really nice to work alongside and with them to show them how things work and what you can do.鈥�
As he settles into his new position and post-grad life, Schulz is looking forward to a career of shaping cities for the future.
鈥淗opefully I鈥檒l be working on something that can either provide joy to residents, provide homes or places for people to work or places for people to sell 鈥� something I can look back on however many years in the future and just think, 鈥榟ey, I made a difference.鈥�"